In the Nest of the Fallen Serpent - Chapter 48
Chapter 48
“I already promised you… that won’t happen.”
She wasn’t unafraid. The slight tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. Her gaze, too, darted nervously, avoiding his, flitting across the floor.
“So, you don’t need to tell me what happens if I run away… because I won’t run away anyway…”
Benedict, his eyes half-lidded, gazed down intently at his slave. She was a woman unusually sensitive to the wounds and pain of others. Even hearing a description of suffering would easily distress her.
A healthy dose of fear was necessary, but he hadn’t intended to torture her with the details. He decided to stop there.
“Very well.”
Relief visibly bloomed on her face. Oddly, the sight of it irritated him, even though he’d been the one doing the threatening. That’s why the words abruptly tumbled out.
“You can’t hide a single thought. It’s remarkable.”
“Me…?”
“Is there anyone else here besides you?”
Her already large, round eyes widened further.
“You, you know what I’m thinking?”
“You were just relieved that you didn’t have to hear what punishment runaway slaves receive.”
“How did you…”
Her lips parted slightly. As the red flesh of her inner mouth became visible between her neat teeth, Benedict unconsciously ran his tongue over his own.
He had thrust his fingers inside that mouth. The sensation of her tongue against them as he’d moved them around came back to him. The soft, moist feeling of yielding flesh.
A slow heat bloomed in his fingertips. His brow twitched, and he pulled his hand away from her cheek.
“Well, honesty isn’t a bad thing.” He added casually, “Since I’ll find out anyway, don’t bother trying to deceive me.”
Did she understand? He tapped her cheek lightly, and a small “Yes” slipped out. Satisfied, Benedict’s lips curved into a subtle smile. Suddenly, the realization that he still didn’t know her name struck him. Did he even need to call her by name?
You, girl, slave. He had plenty of substitutes. But, looking at her clear face, he found himself curious. He mentally ran through a few names.
Veronica, Angela, Elena, Theresa.
None of them suited her.
His curiosity unsatisfied, he furrowed his brow in annoyance.
“Your Grace, it’s Moritz.”
His aide called for him from outside the door. The slightly hurried tone indicated urgent business. Benedict turned to receive the report. The snake slithered out of the room ahead of him.
“M-Master.”
The call stopped him in his tracks. He glanced back at her. Had she called him without thinking? Their eyes met, and she hesitated, then cautiously spoke.
“My name is Hilde.”
“.…”
“I thought… you might not know my name yet.”
Benedict didn’t reply. He moved towards the door. Before grasping and pushing the handle, he silently mouthed her name.
Hilde. It was a rather pretty name.
Hilde hadn’t been alone in the bedroom long when Greta entered.
“Things are likely to be a bit chaotic in the castle for a while. It would be best to secure the windows.” Greta said as she latched each window. Noticing the unusual tension in her face, Hilde cautiously inquired, “Has something happened?”
Greta looked out the window instead of answering. Hilde’s gaze naturally followed, and she saw soldiers moving busily outside. Among them was the Duke. Astride a jet-black horse, he was particularly conspicuous.
“A horde of monstrous beasts has attacked.”
Startled, Hilde turned back to Greta. “M-Monstrous beasts have invaded…? Then, the people of the territory…”
The memory of the spider beast she had encountered on her way to the Dukedom sent an involuntary shiver through her. She still couldn’t forget the terror of that moment.
“The knights are holding them off at the walls, but there’s no telling how long they can hold out. His Highness has gone himself, so we can only hope for the best.”
Hilde’s trembling eyes turned back to the window.
‘He mustn’t get hurt.’
She hoped everyone would be safe. No injuries, no pain, no one hurt…
Hilde instinctively touched her now numb, empty neck and prayed without realizing it. For his safe return.
A faint golden light, unnoticed by her, flickered briefly and disappeared from the fingertips resting on the windowpane.
Spider beasts swarmed up the stone ramparts of Bertolph’s outer wall.
“Hold them back!”
